Treating air for medical purposes



(No Model.) R. w. ROGERS.

TREATINGAIR FOR MEDICAL PIIRPOSES.

N0. 5Z9,'684. PapentedNov. 20. 1894.

210mm (A.

TNE uomus versus c0. PHUTD-LITHO. wnsumorou, n. c.

l g STATES PATENT sures,

TRE'ATING AIR FOR MEDICAL PURPOSES.

SPECIFIOATTON forming part of Letters Patent No. 529,684, dated November 20, 1 894.

Application filed February 27, 1894- 1 Serial No. 501,630. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ROBERT WESLEY Roc- ERS, a citizen of the United States, residing at San Francisco, in the county of San Francisco and State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Treating Air for Medical Purposes; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exactdescription thereof.

My invention relates to the treatment of air to fit it for use in medicine.

In modern medical practice air or the gases, used medicinally, have found a place in the established list of remedial agencies whether applied by inhalation,or as medicated sprays saturated with some liquid and directed upon the seat of the disease.

Accepting the modern theoryof the parasitic origin of certain diseases, it is clear that air, although applied in any manner as a remedial agent, may be itself the means of introducing disease germs of one kind or another directly into the systein that is, if such germs are present in the air used, (and there is no way of determining their presence or absence,) they may be directly imported into the system, either to increase the disease under treatment, or to lay the foundation of a new one. 7

The object of my invention, therefore, is to provide a method for rendering air aseptic when used medicinally, and also to furnish a simple and convenient apparatus for carrying out the method in question.

used at a point intermediate between the source of the supply of air and the inhaler or atomizer or whateverimplement or apparatus is used in the direct treatment. Thus if we suppose the air to be supplied by a pump or a compressor, and applied to the patient by means of an atomizer, my apparatus will be so situated as to be conveniently connected by tubes with both, and thus be compelled to pass intermediately through such apparatus. This apparatus may be briefly described as a filter containing some liquid of an antiseptic character and provided with means-for the admission and discharge of both air and liquid, and with controlling valves for regulating the supply of both.

I have shown in the accompanying drawing My process is employed and my apparatus an apparatus constructed in what I believe to be the best manner for carrying out my purpose, but capable of various modifications within the limits of my invention.

7 The drawing is a vertical section of the apparatus with some parts in elevation.

A represents a metallic vessel or tank having preferably a dome-shaped top through which extends a tube or pipe 1. This vessel is water and air tight except at the pipe 1 and at the draw-off cock 2, tapped into it near the bottom. Within the vessel A, and resting upon cleats 3 or upon legs as preferred, is a bottomless receptacle B, made preferably from copper, and strong enough to withstand a considerable atmospheric pressure from the interior. The upper end of the receptacle B is cone-shaped as shown, so as to deflect the air toward and into the tube 1, which is firmly brazed to the top of vessel B. The vessel B is secured to the bottom of the tank A, or to the cleats 3, and to its Walls by braces or strips 4, as shown, so that both vessels form one rigid structure. The tube 1 extends directly to a pressure gage or indicator, conventionally illustrated at O, by which the pressure in the apparatus is automatically indicated at all times. Connected to this tube 1 is a branch 5, containing any kind of valve 6, such as an ordinary globe valve, from which a hose or tube 7 extends to the atomizer or other apparatus for medical treatment, and which it is unnecessary to show in the drawing. The supply pipe 8 from an air pump, compressor or other source of supply, is for convenience connected to a similar branch 9, securedto the pipe 1, but closed at the junction point. The branch 9 contains a valve 10, similar to that in the branch referred to. From the branch 9, and between the valve 10 and the vessel A, a pipe 11 enters the vessel, and, passing down in the space separating the inner and outer receptacles, is bent so as to pass under the edge of, and extend up a short distance into the interior vessel B. This pipe too A funnel-topped filling tube D, which is also a gage, is secured to the side of the vessel A, its lower end entering the admission pipe of the cock 2. The pipe D is provided with a glass section of tubing 12, by which the level of the liquid within is at all times indicated. These two vessels, with the liquid contained by them, form an antiseptic air filter. The air entering under pressure is obliged to pass through the liquid contents, which are of such a nature as to thoroughly purify it and render it absolutely aseptic and fit for medical use. The air so treated can then be supplied in regulated quantities by means of the valve 6 and tube 7 to the atomizer, where it is saturated in the usual manner with the proper medicinal solution, and then used as a spray.

What I claim is 1. An apparatus for treating air for medical use consisting of a receptacle for liquids, an air inlet thereto, and an air outlet therefrom, inlet and discharge pipes for liquid, and valves for controlling the admission and discharge of air to and from said receptacle.

and extending into the inner vessel, and in- 30 dependent pipes for the admission and discharge of liquid, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination with the vessels A and B, adapted to contain a body of liquid, of an air inlet pipe entering the vessel A and extending into the vessel B, an air discharge pipe from the vessel B extending through the vessel A, a valved branch adapted to 00111 municate with an atomizer or other apparatus, and liquid filling and discharge pipes, substantially as set forth.

Intestirnony whereof I have affixed my signature-,in presence of two witnesses, this 14th day of February, 189i.

ROBERT XVESLEY ROGERS.

Vitnesses.

L. W. SEELY, N. L. BLAIR. 

